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Persistent postpartum depressive symptoms and developmental impairment in Bangladeshi children: a cohort study

Rasheda Khanam1, Verna Mauren Amy Lazar1, Nabidul Haque Chowdhury2

  • 1Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Journal of Global Health
|July 3, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Persistent postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) in mothers are linked to lower cognitive and language development in children. This study highlights the impact of maternal mental health on early childhood development in Bangladesh.

Area of Science:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Optimal child development is crucial for long-term health.
  • Postpartum depression (PPD) is associated with adverse child outcomes.
  • Limited evidence exists on persistent PPD symptoms (PPDS) in low- and middle-income countries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between persistent postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) and child developmental outcomes.
  • To examine the impact of PPDS on cognitive, language, and motor domains in young children.
  • To provide insights into maternal mental health's role in child development in a low-income setting.

Main Methods:

  • Data from 799 mother-child pairs in Sylhet, Bangladesh (2017-2018).
  • Maternal depressive symptoms assessed at 42-60 days and 12 months postpartum (Patient Health Questionnaire - 9).
  • Child development evaluated at 24 months (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition).
  • Multivariable linear regression models used to analyze associations.

Main Results:

  • Persistent postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) were associated with significantly lower cognitive scores (-2.06) and language scores (-3.13) in children at 24 months.
  • No statistically significant difference was observed in the motor domain scores.
  • These findings were adjusted for potential confounders.

Conclusions:

  • Persistent postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) are linked to impaired cognitive and language development in children.
  • Maternal mental health significantly influences early childhood development trajectories.
  • The study underscores the need for mental health support for mothers in low-resource settings.
Abstract

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